Improvement in harvester-cutters



waited gratte @sind @Win12,

JAMES M. fl`A'l1`l`,-OF ARGADIA, WISCONSIN, ILHHIUXOR. '.l() lllllhllId11 WILLIAM FRY, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA.

Letters Patent N 96,503, dated .Nm'cmlier 2,1869,

`IMPRO'V'IIElMIElN'I IN HARVESTER-CUTTEVRS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the s ame.

To all u'lzom 'it may cantera Be it known that I, Jnrns M. IAFT, of Arcadia, in the county of T1'e1npcaleau, and State of risconsiln have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reapers and Mowers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.v

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My `invention relates tothe siekles or cutting-dvices oi' reaping and mowing-machincs; and

It consists in a novel manner of pivoting and operatingthe separate teeth or blades ot'the sickle, and in constructing` the iingers with anopening through their front; under portions, whereby the are rendered lighter, and less liable to become clogged.

Figure l is a top plan view of a portion ot` a sickle, vready for operation;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, on the line a; a' of tig. 1; and

Figures Sand 4 are views ot' portions shown more in detail.

In constructing my improved cutthig-apparatus, I provide a metallic plate, l), which is secured firmly to the front of the platform ot' the machine, and to the front edge of this plate l), I bolt the lingers A, as shown in iigs. l and 2. A

These fingers Aarecenstructed in the usual manner at their front ends, but are curved on their sides or edges, being made yonsiderably wider at their rear portions, as represented in iig. l.

Through their lower part an elongated opening, Ill, is made, as shown in4 iig. 2, and as indicated by thc dotted lines in fig. l, at A.

By means of this opening, the linger is madelighter, and, at the same time, is rendered less liable to become. gununed up or cloggml, as the gum, and whatover else works into it, or between it and the blades B, has a chance to work out through the opening F.

Ihe sickle consists of a series ot" separate blades, B, the front ends ot' which are pointed like a spear-l head, and bevelled on their upper surfhce, so as to form a sharp cutting-edge on each side, as represented in tig. l, that portion of the blades, back ofthe pivots on which -t-bcy vibrate, being made three or t'our times as long as thc iront or cutting-portion.

ing above and below, as shown more clearly in iig. 2,

these rounded ends or journals fitting below into suit., able holes in the plate 1),and above into similar holes in a bar, F, secured in position, as shown in 2.'

By this method ot' pivoting the blades, I secure two bearings for the journals, thereby dividing the friction, and throwing it upon two points instead of one, and thus prevent the cutting or wea-ring away ofthe pivot, as occurs where the thin steel blade turns loosely ou "the piu, as these devices have heretofore been made.

The pivot-pins yn are intended to tit snugly,-?trut not tight, in the blades B, so that whenever itis desired to remove a bladev for sharpening, or i'or ,anyrothei' purpose, the piu is taken out, and -the blade then wit-hdrawn.

If preferred, the pins maybe made with ahead, 0u-, as shown in tig. 3, for the purpose of supporti-ngthe blade, and preventing its cutting-edge from dropping down and coming in contact with edge ot' the tingen, the head an tting into awsuitable recess in the platebelow, -the saine as the 'lower journal o does when the `head m is not used.

lVhen this is not used, washers may bc placed on the pin, under the blade, to hold it up, or the heel of the iinger may be slightly raised at the point hidicated by u in fig. 2, which will serve the same purpose.

To operate these blades, I secure their rear ends to a reciprocating bar G, by either of the threcjilans. shown iu'fig. l.

In thc tirst, the rear cud of the blade l is made narrow, and rests in a recess in the bar C, the Isides.

recess in the bar C has its bearing sides made straight,

and the end ot` the blade formed into a rounded head, 71, the curve, in this case, heilig `formed on the blade, instead of on the sides ot' the recess, as in the other.

In thetbird case, the rear end c, of the blade 13, is made straight, and of uniform width,`tbr some little distance, its edges beingr bevelled so as to iit :zr-doyetailed groove, formed in the upper surface ot' a block or plate, d, as represented in tio'. 4, this plate l having a journal, e, projecting from its lower side, by which it is jonrnalled to the bar C, as represented in fig. 3.

' lhe plate d, ot' course, will always be` in lin'e with the blade, it turning ou its journal e, as the bar O moves to and fro, the part c of the blade at the same body, and journals at each end, said pin being held in time sliding back and forth in the dovetailed groove. place by the bar F and plate D, all substantially as By this improvement, I overcome the ditlicnlties herein set forth. that have hitherto prevented the use. of this style of 2. The block d, pivoted to the reciprocating bar C, cutters, and produce a. device that works perfectly, and having the dovetail recess, for the reception of and with but very little friction. the end of the cutting-blade, as herein described.

Having thus described my improvement, JAMES M. TAFT. What I claim, is Witnesses:

WM. FRY, 1 J. D. FLEIsoHER.

1. The cutting-blades B, constructed as described, and pivoted on the detachable pins, having a. square 

